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03 Jan 18

Feeling grateful for 2017

Having spent literally a week on the sofa, eating mostly chocolate, I’m now rising like a Phoenix from the flames, or cushions in my case. It was an exhausting run up to Christmas, mostly because we decided to smash our house to smithereens just three weeks before.

But now I’ve got the New Year itch. I spent the other day de-cluttering the office and even had a little wardrobe cull. But before I thrust into 2018 with gusto (?*!), I thought I’d take a little recap- or as our Cilla would say, ‘Here’s our Graham with a quick reminder’. I think it’s a really good idea to look back and give yourself a pat on the back for everything you have achieved, and also acknowledge the things that didn’t work out for you and let them go. While I find it really exciting to have a new year spread out in front of me like a fresh new canvas- it can feel overwhelming too. So I’m staying in my Christmas bubble just for one more day by looking over the past year in celebration. Here are my highlights!

Sophie Robinson

My new website was launched in January 2017 with this fab little photo shoot with Luca Sage.

 

JANUARY saw the launch of my new website and blog. My intention was to create a hub with all my stuff in one place. So it’s a place for design news, what I’m up to, interior inspiration as well as links to all my social media channels. I worked with the incredible Caz from Making Waves to create an identity that really visually communicated what I was about along with a new set of portraits taken by the amazing Luca Sage. This was a wonderful way to kick start the new year with intention!

Judging the final of The Great Interior Design Challenge with Kelly Hoppen, Daniel Hopwood and Tom Dyckhoff

 

FEBRUARY saw the final of The Great Interior Design Challenge and I was delighted to be invited back as a guest judge and reunited with my hommies the lovely Daniel Hopwood and Tom Dyckhoff. We were treated to exceptional talent and provocative design from Daniela Tasca York and Oliver Thomas. Before you ask sadly the BBC hasn’t commissioned a new series for 2018 so our TV sets are bereft of interior design programming once more.

I launched my unique colour workshop in Brighton for Interior design enthusiasts

MARCH saw the launch my unique Colour workshop. This was to a small group of interior design lovers with the aim to help them explore what colour palettes best suit them and their homes. I shared my own individual approach to colour, which is part getting tapped into your gut and intuition and part sharing my tried and tested colour scheming tips and theories. Next course is in February and there’s still chance to grab a spot here!

a canary yellow velvet sofa adds a pop of colour to an all great interior. The open plan living room kitchen is at the home of interior designer Sophie Robinson

My Mum finally moved into the annex that we built next door and tries out contemporary living for the first time

APRIL saw my Mum finally move into the annex! After six months in the planning and six months in construction- all documented on my YouTube channel– she finally gets to move into her shiny new home. It’s been a massive success having her next door and I have a lot to thank her for. Her love and support and not to mention her cooking!

Cover girl on the Mail on Sunday

March also saw me appear as cover girl for the Mail on Sunday talking about my favourite subject ever… Colour! Seeing myself full page was quite a surreal moment- definitely one to get framed for the downstairs loo!

Interior designers Sophie Robinson and Daniel Hopwwood, at RHS Chelsea Flower show 2017

With my TV hubby Daniel Hopwood smelling the roses at Chelsea Flower Show

MAY highlight was being invited to Chelsea Flower show with Daniel on the opening day. Such a riot of colour and creativity it feeds my soul every time! And you all loved my celeb spotting on Instagram Stories!

DIY SOS team Nick Knowles, interior designer Sophie Robinson and Jules

My DIY SOS debut with the rugged Nick Knowles

JUNE saw my TV debut on screen as the new interior designer for BBC ONES DIYSOS. This was the most incredible experience and a real honour to be part of. The episode which helped the inspirational Ratcliffe family has been nominated for a National TV award, so something we can all feel very proud of in every way. Its a real privilege making great TV while making a real difference to peoples lives.

Fiona Humberstone and I Launching our Colour Psychology course for Interior designers

Also this month saw the launch of my Colour Psychology course for Interior designers workshop with the enigmatic Fiona Humberstone. Launching any new course is exhausting but really rewarding and I loved working along side such a creative force. Check out our new date for June here.

Hosting our first camping weekend here at my house in the woods

In JULY we also hosted our own mini festival here at the house to bring all our friends and family together. It rained but in true Brit style we stuck it out! We hope this is something we can build on year on year so watch this space! Its a big part of why we moved from the city to the countryside.

Going triple denim and feral at Ewelese campsite with my besties. Definitely not an instagram worthy pic and surely that’s the whole point!

AUGUST is school holidays and my ultimate aim is to not to have to work throughout this month so I can dedicate myself fully to spending time with my son and enjoying the house. This year I didn’t quite manage it as I was preparing a huge design project. But my highlight has to be our  camping trip to the inspirational Ewlease farm in Cornwall. Bracing swims in the sea, turkish baths, morning yoga in a field every day and a little digital detox was just what the doctor ordered!

Interior designer Sophie Robinson with Pudsey bear for children in need DIY SOS

SEPTEMBER was the month I undertook my biggest project ever. I was blown away to be invited to design the Children in need special with DIYSOS. My biggest most ambitious project to date saw me design a community center with accommodation for kids in care. It was a particularly moving experience as my husband and I have been in the adoption process all year and know all too well the struggles these young kids face. Thanks so much for all your support for this cause with this epiosde raising an astonishing £500K for Children in Need.

interior designers sophie robinson and daniel hopwood hosting the amara interior blog awards

Hosting the prestigious Amara interior blog awards with Daniel Hopwood

OCTOBER saw me hosting the prestigious Amara Interior design blog awards with my sidekick Dan Hopwood. I love this event, hosted by the fabulous team at Amara, as it brings together everything I love about blogging and social media. It’s a celebration of an incredibly tight knit community of passionate people and acknowledges what they do best. Sharing great interior design!

My styling presentation on the Colour Psychology workshop

NOVEMBER I hosted my biggest and most highly attended course to date. We sold out our Colour Psychology for Interior Designers, held at the inspiring Papermill Studios in London, to a passionate crowd of interior designers and entrepreneurs. Highlight for many was my styling workshop where I share my ways to make a room scheme hang together. However highlight for me was the mouthwatering lunch supplied by Hampstead Kitchen.

Focus and thrive workshop hosted by Elizabeth Cairns and Fiona Humberstone

The inspirational Focus and Thrive event helped to kick start me into thinking about 2018

I also attend the Focus and Thrive workshop, hosted by brand stylist Fiona Humberstone and life coach Elizabeth Cairns. It was a fully immersive two day course with the sole purpose of focusing on myself and my business which was sheer heaven in itself. It allowed me to reflect on my values and therefore plan powerful future goals. Held at the fabulous Beaverbrook estate which was an interior design inspiration in itself! If you get the chance grab a spot on the next workshop here.

Finally and yet unexpectedly renovations start in our house in the woods. The kitchen is stripped just three weeks before Christmas

DECEMBER has been the most epic month yet. We unexpectedly discovered rising damp throughout our ground floor and decided to jump on it. So the house was stripped back to bare brick all with a few weeks of Christmas. Along with our builders we worked so hard to get the house back to some sort of sanity in time for Christmas. With a temporary kitchen and a working tap (Yay!) we even hosted 8 people on boxing day and had our besties over for a sleep over for new years eve. As I type the builders are back after the break and it all starts again! The dust and upheaval is exhausting but at the same time I feel so engergised to at last be banishing the magnolia walls and beige carpets.

The kitchen situation on Christmas eve. Unpacking all the kitchen equipment made me wish I’d never bought so much tupperware

So that neatly rounds up my 2017. Not to go without thanking all the amazing brands I’ve collaborated inspiring work with; Sofa.com, John Lewis, Marks and Spencers, Hillarys, Crown paints, Ikano bank, Anglican windows, Grand Designs Live, Essential Edinburgh, Royal Carribean.  It’s been a really cathartic experience writing this post. As well as celebrating the positive its also been about letting go of the negative. For me personally the big one is letting go of trying to have anymore birth children which has been immeasurably hard but acknowledging all you have to be grateful for always helps, and as you can tell my cup runneth over in that respect! I have so much to look forward to in 2018 so will continue to post with positivity and passion. The renovation of my home, some amazing work prospects are all going to create some great 2018 highlights. Thanks so much for being a part of my journey so far and spreading the colour love!

 

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DIY SOS big build in Arundel West Sussex The colour trend for 2018 ultraviolet

comments

Cara on 08.01.18

What a great year you’ve had Sophie. Well done! Love seeing all your colourful designs, pics and outfits!! I’m gutted there will be no Great Interior Design Challenge for 2018 🙁 xx

Reply
Sophie Robinson on 11.01.18

Me too Cara. Such a well loved show and a great celebration of creativity and resourcefulness

Reply
Larraine Charters on 25.01.18

Couldn’t agree more, The great Interior Design Challenge was one of my favourite’s. I’ll be lobbying the BBC!
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to more blogs and inspiration – love your use of colour.

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Catch Sophie In All Her Colourful Glory On Instagram

We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little l We are back, it’s PODCAST DAY! After a little  lie down over Christmas Kate and I are rebooted and cuddled up inside our ‘duvet dens’ for remote recording Lockdown 3.0. . We have so much to catch up on including more ‘home office’ makeovers. Stop the press, Tom has finally been installed in his new green office that was previewed last series , pictured, and @mad_about_the_house is also having a complete reshuffle now that she has two large teenage sons living at home full time taking up all the space , and fridge contents by the sounds of it. 🍔. We discuss our exciting plans for the year ahead and share our thoughts on the trends for 2021. So for all this and more head on over to the podcast app and find us in The Great Indoors! 
CREDITS walls painted Sage and onion and windows in Lamp black @littlegreenepaintcompany . Blind made by @willowbertinteriors in Textile under Ekvatorn by Joseph Frank’s @svenskttenn . Table is old IKEA. Vintage Eames chair @vinestreetvintage Cushion @fannyshorter Seagrass flooring @alternativeflooring 
#thegreatindoors #podcast #interiorspodcast #wfh #homeoffice #greenroom #threemugs #desksetup #homestudio
How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might How you doing? Just a reminder that while it might appear like we are living the perfectly curated life  in these squares it’s a short swipe to reveal the reality! Lockdown has its unique stresses and I’m making a pact to be gentle on myself and everyone around me. Let me know what your coping strategies are right now. Mine today is makeup and big earrings. 
Thanks to @franklybold for this insanely fabulous pair . When times gets tough, the earrings just get bigger! #gift 

#colourlover #banthebeige #earrings #bigjwellery #bigearrings #lockdown #lockdownlife #lockdown2021
Friday! 🤩 It’s all about the small wins and Friday! 🤩 
It’s all about the small wins and I made it to the end of the week. But already 2021 has me feeling weary. I had such a lovely relaxing  Christmas break and this week has been full steam ahead with all kinds of 💩 thrown at me and I haven’t even started home schooling yet! 😫 But one thing that gave me a mood boost was dressing up in this magnificent gown from @las_ninas_textiles . I met fellow colour lover Nina on these squares and just adore her brand, her ethos and her fringe. Thank you Nina for your beautiful gift of colour joy! It really has shone a Latin rainbow on a dismal grey British week. This stunning indigo and huipil dress even has little threads of glitter running through it. 🌈 I’m pairing it with cosy leggings and my trusty @grensonshoes boots so I might never take it off! 
What do you do to cheer yourself out of the doldrums?

#gift #colourlover #banthebeige #lasninastextiles #haulternativefashion #sustainablefashion #colourlover #lasninastextiles #whomadeyourclothes #dresslikeyoudecorate #dresslikeyourhome #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Who’s back at their desk this week with big plan Who’s back at their desk this week with big plans for their home in 2021! I’m thrilled and excited that my online course Colour Psychology for interiors is open for enrolment TODAY! 🛎🛎🛎 By far the most popular course to date this is a deep dive into how colour works on a deeper more emotional level. Discover how to blend colour harmoniously in your schemes and understand which palettes are perfect for you. Because we all have very different connections to colour and design and finding out what your authentic palette and style is is fundamental to creating a home you love. I’ve spent years honing my own style but with this course you can nail it in a matter of weeks! And it’s a beautiful deep dive into self discovery and creativity while  helping you gain clarity, confidence and cut through the overwhelm. Because there is enough of that going around already! 🤪 I’ll be back here at 6pm tonight on an Instagram live to tell you more about the transformational power of Colour Psychology for interiors so please join me and ask any questions! Bring on the colour joy! 🌈🌈🌈

📷 @aluncallenderphoto #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #colourlover #banthebeige #backtowork #interiordesign #interiordesigner #interiorsesignschool #interiorsesignonline #houseofhackney #newyearnewhome #homegoals #colourmyhome #mycolourfulinterior #colourfulhomevibe #mycreativeinterior #nesttoimpress #stylishhomevibes #atmine
The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to The year we stayed at home. 2020 has taught me to care and love the simple things. And in many ways I’m blessed that being at home is often just where I want to be. The year ahead still holds so many unknowns and managing fears, expectations and anxieties will continue to be part of the battle.  But making a house a home can really help us feel safe and grounded. So here are some beautiful flowers, and rainbow baubles that go towards making my home feel the best it can. How do you make your home feel extra special and bring a smile to your face 😊? 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto flowers @sageandco.floraldesign baubles @rockettstgeorge.co.uk lamp @pookylights walls in lazuli @zoffanyfw artwork @alexmayhughes 

#houseahome #colourlover #banthebeige #marchtothebeatofyourowndrum #homesweethome
This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no wh This is becoming a habit! All dressed up and no where to go, AGAIN! Ha! Fairwell 2020! It’s been....an experience! Big love to all of you! I’ve LOVED hanging out with you all on these squares!🥰 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto  #colourlover #banthebeige #newyearseve #bye2020 #greatindoors #bbbinteriors 
Dress is @stinegoyastudio at @sirene.boutique ( bought last year)
Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas t Hello!!! How ARE you?! I’m loving this twixmas time, having long lie ins, reading loads, and on that subject currently ‘Think like a monk’ by @jayshetty is PERFECT right now for a mental reset. I’m resisting thoughts of 2021, of work or ‘real life’, for just a couple more days. I see lots of people clearing down the decorations and getting the house feeling fresh, but I’m keeping the twinkle a little longer. But I can feel the batteries are recharging and boy they needed too! I meant to do my yearly vision board today but couldn’t get motivated to do that either! . How are you all doing. Anyone feeling ready to take on the new year yet?  #tapfordetails 
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#twixmas #newyear2021 #colourfulhomevibe #colourlover #banthebeige #bbbinteriors #gidc #sodomino #credenza
All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reali All dressed up and no where to go! Ha ha! In reality I’m in my joggers peeling a mountain of root vegetables but living the dream on the grid just for you! Thanks so much for all of you who have spread the joy and magic of Christmas on these squares. I’ve loved the colour, the creativity and the joy it’s bought. Wishing you all a special Christmas however you are making it work for you, which probably wasn’t  what you’d ever have expected. A special heartfelt virtual hug going out to all of you struggling at this time. See you on the other side! 

📷 @aluncallenderphoto . Garland by @sageandco.floraldesign . Dress @roksandailincic ( not an ad obvs but I know your gonna ask!) 

#christmasdecor #colourfulhomevibe #colourfulchristmas #banthebeige #colourlover #fireside #christmasgarland #christmasgarlanddecor #woodburner #countryliving #countrylife #countryinteriors
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